CHECK IT OUT!!!

The North Face NZ Team jump in a heli and go for a spin in the high country outside of Wanaka hoping to ski the southeast face of Mt Tyndall. After a brief 8am rendezvous at the Harris Mountain Heli office in town and a quick hit of caffeine, the team load up the chopper and fly into the upper Matukituki Valley, lifting up and heading deep into the surrounding mountains. With a solid snow pack, minimal risk of avalanches and a fresh cover of white fluffy stuff, they pick off lines from the heli like kids in candy store. Mt Aspiring and Rob Roy Glacier set the backdrop as the team hover above wild unskied faces pointing their fingers at where they’d like to go, the chopper banks and moments later they’re standing on top waiting to drop.

Extra thanks to Harris Mountain Heli Guides Whitney Thurlow Meyer and Geoff Small.

Filmed Edited & Directed by Tim Pierce

Yesterday I had a spectacular day in the mountains. I was heli skiing with The North Face crew flying with Harris Mountain Heli. We had two amazing guides, Geoff Small, Whitney Thurlow, photographer Camilla Stoddart, filmer Tim Pierce, Athletes Mitchey Greig, Fraser Mcdougall and last but not least Steve Whinacott from TNF. We flew out of Wanaka over the lake right into Mt Aspiring National Park. We covered some good ground and got to ski some big lines…

Last Friday the 2nd of September I headed over to Queenstown to fly again with Harris Mountain Helis. This time to ski a little mellower ski terrain with the Chinese TNF crew. Again I flew with athlete Mitchey Greig and Steve Winnacott  from TNF to meet the party of 13 from The North Face China. We were very lucky to fly from Queenstown airport over Lake Wakatipu up into the mountain range. It was another fantastic day in the mountains.

To start the weekend last Saturday the 3rd of September was the NZ freeski Open Half Pipe. It was a strong field of women competing and I finished up in 3rd place. Very HAPPY!!

Have another TNF trip coming up. Will keep you posted.

The North Face NZ Freeski Open Halfpipe Podium

Mitchy Greig and I with some of the The North Face Athletes China

Mitchey Greig looking over Lake Wakatipu Queenstown

Getting ready to fly today with The North Face - 5th September

Flying over Lake Wanaka

We skied this gnarly face today. Mt Tyndall

Yesterday I headed up with Xgames gold medalist Anna Segal, big mountain ripper Nat Segal, my twin sister Maria Kuzma, the only snowboarder on the trip, Journalist Racheal Oaks-Ash, Photographer Camila Stoddart and filmer Jase Hancox for a incredible day of cat skiing with Queenstown Snow Cats.

So much to tell about our wonderful day but you’ll have to wait for the full story for the  northern season ski mags and Channel Nine in Australia in July 2012 for the one hour tv snow special.

girls and their toys

The Girls - Nat Segal, Anna Segal and Maria Kuzma

Maria and I in the heli

Kingston from the heli

Mt Olympus is a club field located in the Southern Alps of NZ not far from Christchurch. It’s a south facing basin in the Craigieburn  range. Mt Olympus has 450m of vertical drop over 60 hectares (150 acres) of varied terrain with four nutcrackers to get around the mountain.

Check out the video below – ‘Mt Olympus 2011′

The Crew

Not only were the athletes competing against each other but the photographers and filmers have been in a competition of their own, the first ever World Heli Challenge Shootout.

Here is one of my favourites vids ‘Chicks N Chopppers’ by Petri Miniotas from Australia

2011 Champs Benny Bright, Abby Lockhart, Me and Sam Smoothy

This year I was nominated for “Freeski Athlete of the Year”. Up against some tuff competition, Jossi Wells, Byron Wells and Neil Williman. Not expecting any thing but ended up winning the award. Shocked… And to add to that I was then awarded the “New Zealand Snow Sports Athlete of the Year” award.

I would just like to say I am truly humbled by receiving these awards. I would like to thank all the other finalists, and also all my sponsors Volkl, Marker, The North Face, Smith, Dalbello, Cardrona Alpine Resort, Ice Breaker, Mad Wax and Base Ultimate Workshop. I would also like to thank the New Zealand Institute of Sport, SPARC, Skeggs Foundation, Snow Sports New Zealand, Physique Gym, Wanaka Physio and all my supporters.

Freeskier of the Year and Overall Athlete of the Year

Otago Daily Times

Had a great time with some sunshine skiing Camp of Champions and Momentum. Was heaps of fun and learnt some new stuff.

Check out some of the highlights below!!!

Check out the first Episode – FOX GLACIER!

Fraser McDougall - sun set Fox Glacier 2010